MANILA, Philippines — Renowned Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor hosted five of New York City's most respected Filipino artists during an interaction activity this month to produce a single canvass depicting Filipiniana art.
The Department of Foreign Affairs described the event as done "in the spirit of camaraderie and sharing" and a gathering of like-minded friends, old and new, sharing stories and jokes over coffee and donuts on a fine Saturday morning doing something they enjoyed the most.
The resulting art work, titled "Images of the Homeland," was unveiled on August 17 at the Philippine Center, where it will be eventually displayed at the Kalayaan Hall.
The workshop was an initiative of Baldemor, who opened an exhibit at the Philippine Center on August 5 titled, "The Art of Manuel D. Baldemor."
The exhibit brought together New York-based Filipino artists Edgar Doctor, Angelito David, Cesar Delos Santos, Ronald Cortez and Lorina Capitulo. It was an unprecedented gathering of artists unified in the task of creating a piece of art that could become their legacy to the Philippine Center New York by reflecting their various talents on a single canvass.
Participating artist Angelito David, president of the Society of Pilipino Artists in America, remarked that this is the first-ever interaction activity of Filipino artists in New York.
The activity was organized with the support of the Philippine Center New York as part of its program to promote Philippine art and strengthen the community of Filipino artists there.
It is one of the series of activities connected to "The Art of Manuel D. Baldemor" exhibit, which runs until September 4 at the Gallery of the Philippine Center, located at 556 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10036.